In the details

October 1, 1999

A renowned architect, ludwig Mies van der Rohe, frequently said that "God is in the details." An architect myself, I find this statement has special meaning. And I've found that the truth of it transcends architecture, to reach every aspect of life.

God is not only in the details. The divine Spirit - the one governing creative intelligence in the universe - controls the big ideas, the broad brush strokes, as well as the exacting specifics of our existence.

Prayer, or turning in humility to our divine source for help, causes excellent things to happen.

At 3:30 one Tuesday afternoon, the laptop computer I depend on so heavily in my mobile business malfunctioned. Despite the best efforts of a competent telephone service rep, I had to ship it to a repair facility.

I was not happy. My intensive work over the next week would require the computer. And though I was assured that it was unlikely my data was in jeopardy, there was now no practical way to access it. Moreover, the anticipated return date was during my upcoming two-week vacation. The time I needed the computer was now.

I was unhappy - but thankfully not angry or depressed. I knew somehow that this was an opportunity to see the divine Spirit in action. I could rely on this supreme intelligence to adjust the situation. I could expect to see unmistakable evidence of God's love for me, even in the face of apparent inconvenience, hassle, and delay.

What I felt was the buoyancy of Christ - not in a personal sense, but as a powerful message of good speaking to me. This message, which Jesus embodied so fully in his life, is present here, right now, deep within each individual's consciousness to calm, quiet, and reassure. Even when it's over a matter like a computer.

God's message reminds us we're His own likeness. As divine Truth, God impels us to see that the underlying reality of being is created by Him to be good, no matter what circumstances say to the contrary.

I knew that I could count on the all-powerful law of good - the spiritual law of God - to adjust the situation in every necessary way, and to preserve my peace of mind. "All things work together for good to them that love God," promises the Bible (Rom. 8:28).

I chose to see myself in this situation not as an inconvenienced, victimized, Murphy's Law-subordinate mortal, but as having all I needed from God.

I spent the evening feeling peaceful, in unplanned but productive activities. The following day I didn't feel inconvenienced. In fact, I gradually began to feel relief at being able to distance myself from the computer work. I uncovered important information that would enable me to work more efficiently when my computer was returned. Unhappiness faded away.

While the representative said they would do what they could, there was no apparent reason for me to be confident that I could get the laptop back by Saturday. Yet I once again prayed. I affirmed that because they were the children of God, they were all motivated by divine Love and intelligence.

On Thursday, the idea came as I prayed that God's plan might even exceed my logical solution of getting a Saturday delivery. Why not Friday? Well, you can imagine how humbled I was when, during this time of communion with God, the telephone rang and I was told that the overnight express service had just arrived with a package for me. Yes, it was my computer, perfectly repaired. It had not yet been 48 hours since it had first malfunctioned. Wow. I had hoped for Saturday or Friday. God had a better plan!

I had a great time making thank-you calls and writing grateful e-mails to everybody involved. And thanking God.

Speaking of the results of a consciousness transformed by Spirit, Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, once wrote: "By purifying human thought, this state of mind permeates with increased harmony all the minuti of human affairs. It brings with it wonderful foresight, wisdom, and power; it unselfs the mortal purpose, gives steadiness to resolve, and success to endeavor" ("Miscellaneous Writings," pg. 204). This is something anyone can begin to find out and enjoy.